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A close-up of the European Union flag with its yellow stars on a blue background, with several other national flags blurred in the background inside a glass building.

16 October 2026

EU leaders address competitiveness and global challenges

At the EU summit, leaders adopted conclusions on competitiveness, the next MFF, Ukraine, the Middle East, European defence and security, migration and enlargement.

Members of the European Council

The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission.

António Costa — António Costa

European Council

Christian Stocker — Christian Stocker

Austria

Bart De Wever — Bart De Wever

Belgium

Rumen Radev — Rumen Radev

Bulgaria

Andrej Plenković — Andrej Plenković

Croatia

Nikos Christodoulides — Nikos Christodoulides

Cyprus

Andrej Babiš — Andrej Babiš

Czech Republic

Mette Frederiksen — Mette Frederiksen

Denmark

Kristen Michal — Kristen Michal

Estonia

Petteri Orpo — Petteri Orpo

Finland

Emmanuel Macron — Emmanuel Macron

France

Friedrich Merz — Friedrich Merz

Germany

Kyriakos Mitsotakis — Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Greece

Péter Magyar — Péter Magyar

Hungary

Micheál Martin — Micheál Martin

Ireland

Giorgia Meloni — Giorgia Meloni

Italy

Andris Kulbergs — Andris Kulbergs

Latvia

Gitanas Nausėda — Gitanas Nausėda

Lithuania

Luc Frieden — Luc Frieden

Luxembourg

Robert Abela — Robert Abela

Malta

Rob Jetten — Rob Jetten

Netherlands

Donald Tusk — Donald Tusk

Poland

Luís Montenegro — Luís Montenegro

Portugal

Nicușor Dan — Nicușor Dan

Romania

Robert Fico — Robert Fico

Slovakia

Janez Janša — Janez Janša

Slovenia

Pedro Sánchez — Pedro Sánchez

Spain

Ulf Kristersson — Ulf Kristersson

Sweden

Ursula von der Leyen — Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission

See all members

About the European Council

The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities, traditionally by adopting conclusions. It does not negotiate or adopt EU laws.

Illustration of an European Council meeting, showing delegates seated around a large circular table on a multicoloured floor, alongside a stylised icon of an official document with a blue tick, symbolising adopted conclusions.

European Council conclusions

Stylised portrait of President Costa, shown from the chest up against a bright blue rectangular background, with vertical and horizontal blocks of various colours and patterns arranged along the left side of the image.

António Costa, President of the European Council

Illustration of three hands placing coloured ballot papers into a blue ballot box marked with the European Union circle of stars.

Role in nominations and appointments

How the European Council works

EU strategic agenda 2024-2029

A stylised illustration showing a one‑euro coin surrounded by colourful data segments and a pie chart with euro symbols and stars.

Euro Summit

An abstract illustration of the European Council Europa building beside a view of the Earth.

International summits

A stylised collage of Presidents Van Rompuy, Tusk and Michel arranged against a light speckled background with blue geometric shapes.

Former presidents

1974

9 December

The European Council was created as an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government of the EU member states.
1992

7 February

Under the Treaty of Maastricht, the European Council acquired a formal status and role to provide the impetus and general political guidelines for the EU.
2009

1 December

The European Council became one of the seven EU institutions, following the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.

See more milestones

Black and white photo of EU leaders meeting for the first time in Dublin. — First meeting of the European Council in Dublin on 11 March 1975